Cpl. Matthew Wilcox, facing a court martial in the death of a fellow soldier, has challenged the impartiality of the military judges trying him.

CBC reported that defence lawyer Maj. Stephen Turner argued Monday that military judges are only appointed for five years at a time, and said they can’t be independent if they’re afraid they’re going to lose their jobs.

Wilcox, of Glace Bay, is charged with manslaughter in Cpl. Kevin Megeney’s October 2007 shooting death.